FIELD GUIDE · UPDATED 20 OCTOBER 2026
One chart.
Three sizes.
14, 16 or 18-count Aida?
The higher the fabric count, the smaller the finished design. Aida count tells you how many full cross stitches fit in an inch when you stitch one cross per fabric block. The chart still contains the same number of stitches; each stitch takes up less space on a higher-count fabric.
For a chart that is 140 stitches wide, 14-count Aida gives a 10-inch design, 16-count gives 8.75 inches, and 18-count gives about 7.78 inches. This is a change in finished size, not a change to the chart.
A worked example: 140 × 112 stitches
The table uses a 3-inch unstitched border on every side. Finished sizes are displayed to two decimal places. Cutting sizes are rounded upward so display rounding does not make the recommendation smaller than the calculated size.
| Aida count | Design (in) | Fabric to cut (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 10 × 8 | 16 × 14 |
| 16 | 8.75 × 7 | 14.75 × 13 |
| 18 | 7.78 × 6.22 | 13.78 × 12.23 |
Open this example in the calculator →
How to work it out
Divide each chart dimension by the count. On 16-count Aida, 140 ÷ 16 = 8.75 inches wide and 112 ÷ 16 = 7 inches tall. Add the border twice to each dimension: 8.75 + 3 + 3 = 14.75, and 7 + 3 + 3 = 13.
For centimetres, multiply the unrounded inch value by 2.54. The 16-count design is 22.225 × 17.78 cm; the piece of fabric with this border is 37.465 × 33.02 cm before rounding upward for the cutting display. Do not treat rounded table figures as exact intermediate values.
What about 28-count linen?
Fabric thread count and effective stitch count are not always the same. If you stitch over two fabric threads, divide the fabric count by two first. That makes 28-count over two equivalent in size to 14-count Aida, and 32-count over two equivalent to 16-count Aida.
“Over two” means the number of fabric threads spanned by a stitch. It does not mean how many strands of embroidery floss you put in the needle. Always check the fabric and stitch method specified in your pattern.
Before choosing a different count
Check the finished size against your intended frame or hoop, then check the pattern for beads, specialty stitches or other details that depend on scale. This calculator handles rectangular dimensions; it does not establish that every embellishment will fit after a count change.
Leave the border required by your finishing method. The 3-inch value here is an example you can edit, not a universal allowance. Measure your actual fabric, including after any planned prewashing, before cutting.
Reference and corrections
The arithmetic uses stitches per inch and the exact inch-to-centimetre conversion. For a separate stitch-count reference, see Yarn Tree’s stitch calculator chart. This page is a guide to our tool, not an endorsement by Yarn Tree.